Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-10-08
"You are the young lazy OF whom 1 am
in search. You are IA friend. / believe.
of Mr.. William Campion, son of the late
Sir Godfrey Gam MON


III is my sweetheart" I replied.
Then the gentleman smiled, dismounted
and gave the reins to one of the servants.
81 am John Huntspill," he said. II
have the honor to he IL partner in thai
firm; l am travelling for the house in the
southern counties. l an also, l may
boast, in the confidence of Mr.. William.
May l, therefore, beg the honor of q pri-
vate interview with yous"
This was very imposing. lied the way
into the house and begged him to be
seated; at the sam time l offered him a
glass OF brandy, assuring him, in the
words of Dan CULVER, that it was right
good brandy, which had never paid duty.
In my girlish ignorance, l conceived that
the payment of duty inflicted some griey.
GUS damage to the character of brandy;
also, l thought that everybody in polite
society offered everybody else glasses Of
raw spirit.
''Thank you,' Mr.. Huntspin replied
with courtesy. 1.-The partners i'm the
house of Campion y Co. never drink II
spirits, on principle, except their own
rum, and that is duty paid"
He meant the last fact as IN admoni-
ton. l took it as q confession that the
rum was Of inferior quality.
II have received" he went on, 1.-TWO
letters, part OF which | propose to COM
m%unicate to you. In fact, young lady,
they Immediately concern you. The first
is from Mr.. William"
He opened a great lcathern pocketbook
and produced two letters.
II received this" he said, '.ten DAYS
ago, being then in the village Of Bright
helmstone, and Immediately resolved upon
travelling hither to acquaint you with the
wishes of Mr.. William.
she informs me, first, of tho lament
able chain Of events which have lei the
young gentleman into this melancholy Do
sition. Had we known of 1t in time, such
is the influence of the house, and so sig
nal were the services Of the late Sir God
frey (f pious memory, that We might
and certainly should have procured the
immediate release of Mr.. William, and
probably the pardon Of the others. But
his pride would not allow him to commu-
nicate the news to us. Tho letter is writ
ten on the road to Portsmouth, whence he
is to be drafted-great heavens! tho son
of Sir Godfrey u sailor before the mast
on board one of the ships in his maicsty's
fleet. He Gays then:
".Beforc this unlucky accident it was
my singular good fortune to Engage the
affections of II young person in whose
soul, believe, virtue and goodness alone
reign" Mr.. Huntspill read this passage
very imrrcssively, repeating the last
words-"virtue and goodness alone
reign He bowed and l blushed, not
with satisfaction at hearing these gra-
cious words, but in humiliation, thinking
how little deserved them, and how / had
wrcaEcd Il revenge in which virtue played
SO poor Il part.
Mr.. %lIuntspill went on: 1.-The worth
Of her heart is illustrated and made ap-
parent to tho world by the extraordinary
beauty of her face and pcrson'"-Oh,
Will! WILL She has promised to make
me happy by becoming my wife. The
promise remains 10 be fulfilled on my re-
turn, should u hcniSnant Providence
grant my return TO my native shores. L
have Told you, my generous friend, the
whole Of my story. tnu will, | am sure,
continue to behave to mo with the same
- That is not part OF the business
said Nh. lluntspi!l, intcrrup,ing at this
point. "llc goes on presently: Il have
written TO my mothcr--who must on no
account discover the degrading situation
i'll which | have been placcd--stnting,
which is perfectly true, that | nm going
to sea for Il long voyage, in which ] may
visit many lands, and that l hope { o nay
my dntiful respects to her on my return.
l have also informed her Of my proposed
marriage with Pleasancc Noel, and begged
her, as II mark OF her forgiveness and
continued love, to receive my bctrothcd
III her WI house, and, during my alb
scnce, have her instructed in the practice
of those external accomplishments which
alone are wanting to make her IN Ornn-
mcnt to the polite world. Goodness, NV
dear friend, is at all times better than
rank
'lt is, inlccd,'' said John Hnntspill,
folding up the letter. with this, which
was forwarded to me from London, came
Il letter from Lady Cnmpion herself, Il
portion Of which l will also read to you:
"'It has long been my resolution, she
says, TO attempt 10 further interference
with my sons plans Of life. His devotion
to a musical instrument, especially when
that instrument Is the common fiddle,
seems to me Inconsistent with the sobricty
Of u London merchant; his readiness ut all
times to fOrsake the counting house for u
concert or II play seems to me unworthy Of
the seriousness which should characterize ~
churclman, while his rowing habits hold
out little hope Of II steady future. have
now learned that he has gone to sea. after
contracting an engagement of the most
serious character with n young woman,
apparently of humble origin"
"My father was q ships carpenter" l
said, half in pride and half in explanation.
Before | knew Will 1 had always regarded
that rank as exceptionally digniiied. But
l WAS quite aware that Lady Campion
would hardly be likely to think SO highly
Of the position.
"Quitc sO,'' said John IT,ltspill. "a
most respectful and useful vocation. Let
me continues: In justice to her and to my
self, ] should wish to make her acquaint-
ance. Will you, therefore, make it your
business to see her? Communicate with
her friends, and tell them that I propose
to receive her in my poor house. And
Should she wish TO remain and ! to keep
her with me, | undertake to bcstow upon
her whatever lessons and education she
may require to beft her for the station to
which heaven hath raised her. You may
bring her back with you, under your own
protection
"such, Miss P%lcasancc,'' said John
Huntspill, sis the proposal made to you
by Lady Campion. 1t will be my first
care to lay it before your friends"
81 have no friends" ! replied. "Dan
and Job and Jephtilah are all at sea-" =
"Do you mean that you are alone, alb.
s%olutely alone, in this house,"
"Quite alone" l said. .'Only in the
cottage there are Isaac Agus and his wife.
l live alone and sleep alone. thought 1
should 90 on living alone for some years"
''But you will not refuse Lady Cam
pion's invitation? Consider, it is made at
Mr.. Williams own request. She will be
your mother"
NO" | said. II cunno. refuse it..